Going to give fluero a try this year. Watched plenty of YouTube videos on knots and such. One thing I've heard about is if you were to birdnest your baitcaster the line would pretty much be done for as to pick it out you'd surely damage it too much. Is it that bad or is this an exaggeration?

The backlash itself doesn't destroy fluoro, kinks in the line do though. You just have to be careful when picking them out, don't start yanking on it. I also try to feed the line out in the water while drifting so that I don't have a pile of line that gets tangled up when you go to reel it back in. 

Don't pick at it to get it out...go in youtube, there are several methods to get them out with picking

1 hour ago, pauldconyers said:

Going to give fluero a try this year. Watched plenty of YouTube videos on knots and such. One thing I've heard about is if you were to birdnest your baitcaster the line would pretty much be done for as to pick it out you'd surely damage it too much. Is it that bad or is this an exaggeration?

yup it pretty much destroys it if its a bad one.

FC line doesn't absorb water so it tends to behave like a spring loosening on the reel spool. Line conditioners are a must because they provide a molecular bond for water to attach to and wet the line.

Most anglers use KVD line conditioner, I use a product called Tangle Free from Punisher lures because it can be applied as you fish.

Tom

1 hour ago, WRB said:

FC line doesn't absorb water so it tends to behave like a spring loosening on the reel spool. Line conditioners arecacmust because they provide a molecular bond for water to attach to and wet the line.

Most anglers use KVD line conditioner, I use a product called Tangle Free from Punisher lures because it can be applied as you fish.

Tom

You aren't supposed to use KVD's during a fishing session?

Believe me, if this was true I would not use Fluoro.

 

I use Fluoro...

 

Karl

2 hours ago, pauldconyers said:

You aren't supposed to use KVD's during a fishing session?

Read the KVD application instructions; apply 12 hours to use.  

Tom

I use fluoro primarily on baitcasters.  I've never used a drop of line conditioner or see the need to ever use it. There are great you tube vids on how to get rid of a bird's nest.   

 

I change fluro line once a month and only fill spools to about 90 percent capacity. I only have an issue with fluoro when I'm not paying attention.  

On 4/7/2019 at 5:04 PM, WRB said:

FC line doesn't absorb water so it tends to behave like a spring loosening on the reel spool. Line conditioners are a must because they provide a molecular bond for water to attach to and wet the line.

Most anglers use KVD line conditioner, I use a product called Tangle Free from Punisher lures because it can be applied as you fish.

Tom

Did you ever find out if Tangle Free was still being made or not? A lot of my trips to the lake are impromptu ones where I'd never have the chance to apply something to my line 12 hours before fished.

I do a fair bit of finesse casting and it seems like 10-12lb seems to be the threshold of backlash survivability.  The thinner stuff seems to get damaged very easily while the 12lb seems to be pretty durable so long as I use care in picking them out.  I use mainly Invixz and Sniper. 

13 hours ago, offsidewing said:

I've never used a drop of line conditioner or see the need to ever use it.... I only have an issue with fluoro when I'm not paying attention.  

^ This ^

 

Fluoro really isn't much different from other lines regarding backlashes and baitcasting gear.  Same rules apply - don't go below 10lb unless you really know what you're doing, and take your time untangling backlashes (don't pull hard or "pick" at it).

 

I like to spool my line on tight - to the point I can't get my fingernail into the spooled line.  It helps reduce the severity of backlashes.

 

Line conditioner helps sometimes, but it's not mandatory.  I usually go without.

11 hours ago, pauldconyers said:

Did you ever find out if Tangle Free was still being made or not? A lot of my trips to the lake are impromptu ones where I'd never have the chance to apply something to my line 12 hours before fished.

I can buy it locally, contact Punisher Lures online, they sell it direct.

Tom

I use KVD line conditioner.  Works well.  I also use 12 lb invisx.

The best way to try FC is to find a friend who swears by it.  Then ask him if you can have a few of the partial spools he has left from his search for an acceptable FC.  He most likely will have quite a few.

9 minutes ago, MickD said:

The best way to try FC is to find a friend who swears by it.  Then ask him if you can have a few of the partial spools he has left from his search for an acceptable FC.  He most likely will have quite a few.

Foul  No partial spools sitting around my house. Now days, most fluorocarbons onthe market are "acceptable." I simply stick to a few proven ones and avoid all the nonsense.  Not much different than the guys on here always asking about the best braid or the best copoly. Lots of partial spools floating around these forums for all types of line.

I wasn't as skilled at finding the good FC, and have a goodly number of partials hanging around.  Maybe my problem is associated with not being willing to spending major money for a spool of line.  About $17 is my limit.  And still nothing stood out.

 

All of the FC brands I've tried have been more susceptible to backlashing and more susceptible to being damaged while trying to get the backlash untangled.  I would describe the FC's as being "very fragile."  I've been trying a good number of name brands, not no-name lines.